City offers Menifee Life Savers health courses

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Registration is now open for a series of free health classes offered by the Riverside County Fire Department through the City of Menifee.

Menifee Life Savers is a collection of public education classes that teach residents CPR, Automated External Defibrilator (AED) use, basic first aid, and bleeding control. Courses are offered at a variety of times to accommodate as many residents as possible.

EMS specialist Joseph Silk, who coordinates the program, says it is designed to enable residents to help others in the vital minutes before first responders can arrive.

“We train for zero-minute response because generally by the time we arrive, minutes have already ticked by,” Silk said. “And you only have so many minutes. Any CPR is better than no CPR.”

Classes typically last two to three hours. Combined CPR, AED and first aid training courses are offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 307 classes have been completed by residents since the program launched in June.

Silk said he knows residents are putting the lessons to work.

“I did hear back from somebody who, just a few days after taking the course, they were at a restaurant and somebody began choking. They were about to pass out. He performed the abdominal thrust,” Silk said.

Residents from all walks of life are taking the courses, including City staff members, school employees and many others. There are two levels of the CPR training – one for the layperson and an advanced course for healthcare providers.

Silk said that many people who have previously been trained come back for a refresher course.

“The science changes so frequently,” said Silk, who added that participants get an American Heart Association certification card.

Another part of Menifee Life Savers is the Vial of Life program. Participants complete a form listing their medical history and medications taken. The form is then kept in a plastic folder with a magnet for keeping on the refrigerator. This helps first responders know information about the person when they arrive.

Silk will also teach classes to church groups and to groups organized by HOAs.

For information or to register, visit www.cityofmenifee.us.cpr